Rathlin Celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight 2019

Thursday 28 February 2019

The Rathlin Island community celebrated Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 with a coffee morning and book swap last Monday in the Manor House. The event was kindly hosted by the new management of the Manor House, with freshly brewed Fairtrade tea and coffee and homemade treats made with Fairtrade ingredients. The historic Rathlin Manor House Guest Inn, now a community social enterprise, has just reopened under new proprietor Mary O’Driscoll.

The event was well supported, including by the pupils and staff of St Mary’s Primary School. Rathlin was the first island anywhere in Ireland to gain Fairtrade status in 2013, and businesses on the island continue to support it. There are plans for similar Fairtrade events in the future on Rathlin, and there are also currently moves to achieve Fairtrade status for the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area and for individual towns within it, promoting Fairtrade and increasing the availability of Fairtrade products within the area.